Business leaders who win awards from their local chambers of commerce rarely exhibit the excitement that their staff members and community partners carry upon hearing the good news.

David Schell, executive director at Willoughby-based Breckenridge Village, is a prime example. Schell smiled and gave the Breckenridge staff almost all of the credit for his upcoming Distinguished Business Leader of the Year award from the Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Janice Edwards, a member of the assisted living community's marketing team did a giddy jig following the mere mention of Schell's award.

Should Schell decide to do any dancing at the Chamber's awards luncheon Tuesday, it'll be on behalf of the employees across the 32-acre campus he said helped him achieve the honor.

"I think we open up the newspaper and we see everything pointing at 'me' and 'I' and 'self' and 'What's in it for me?' " Schell said. "(The Distinguished Leader award) is truly a collective effort of a lot of skill sets, and it's a pleasure to be a part of it.

"People talk about the leadership and it starts at the top -- I think I have an obligation to set the tone and provide that direction -- but without everybody rallying around that, it's virtually impossible."

Bowden Manufacturing President C. Andrew McCartney shares the same feelings. That's why he'll bring several employees to the luncheon, where Bowden will be presented with the Business of the Year award.

"It's always nice to get some positive recognition, especially for your team and what you're doing," said McCartney, whose company produces parts for industries like defense and aerospace.

McCartney said business at Bowden in 2010 remained steady with 2009 levels, which improved compared with recession-laden 2008. As impressive as the Chamber found that, it chose Bowden because of its work in the community.

In 2010, Bowden's efforts included work at Pepper Pike mental health agency Beech Brook, Project Hope and the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland, where McCartney serves as a board member. There, employees who are members of Bowden's internal philanthropy group, Team Heart, made regular visits during which they served meals and spent time with the families of patients.

McCartney said he was most proud of brokering an opportunity for a Ronald McDonald child with cancer to make the first pitch at a Lake County Captains game.

"He was on cloud 12 and a half," McCartney said of the youngster. "You work to set up opportunities where you can get folks to interact and recognize just how fortunate we all are to have our kids healthy."

Schell said he thinks Breckenridge has completed more construction in the last three years than it did in the last 13.

In 2010, that included work on the $22 million condominium housing development, Grace Woods and the Veale Wellness & Aquatic Center, which will be dedicated on Jan. 20.

Schell has been an active volunteer at his church, and groups like Rotary International, Boy Scouts of America, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. He also is a past president of the Willoughby Rotary Club.

Still, Edwards says people around Breckenridge appreciate the smaller things Schell is known for.

"The time he takes, his commitment to engage with every single resident and staff member is astonishing," Edwards said of Schell. "You feel when he speaks to you that he really does care how you're doing."

Schell responded to that complimentary observation in the same humble fashion he has to the award he'll soon receive from the Willoughby Chamber.

"I'm embarrassed by all of this," he said, following Edwards' comment.